Introduction Prostitution is the activity of selling one’s body for sexual intercourse in the exchange for money. Prostitution has been around for a very long time and exists in every part of the world. It can be a willful choice or someone can be forced into it. Trafficking of prostitution is occurring in India and results in women being abused, kidnapped, raped, and sold to brothels and pimps. In addition, there is a lot of underage prostitution also taking place in India by young girls. Prostitutes in India are not given the same rights as every other citizen even if they did not choose the occupation willingly and treated horribly by the general public. It is essential to understand everyone’s perspective on prostitution and how they feel about prostitution, including forced prostitution.
History Prostitution in India began with Devadasi, which is a practice where girls were married off to Gods or a local religious deity of the temple (Legal Service India 2009). The girls would be married off before they would reach puberty and she would be required to become a prostitute for upper-caste community members (Legal Service India 2009). Devadasi was declared illegal in India, though many still practice it (Legal Service India 2009).
Causes and Types of Prostitution Many sex workers in India work as prostitutes due to the lack of funds to support themselves or their children. Many do not have a choice but to choose this occupation due to poverty, after a marriage fails or after being disowned by their families (AbsoluteAstronomy.com 2009). Some women from villages fall in love, elope, and than find themselves betrayed by their husbands and sold to a pimp, that take money from women as commission (Rani 2008). Other factors that lead to prostitution include social customs, family prostitutes, and inability to arrange marriage, bad company, and lack of sex education, media, prior incest and rape, lack of recreational facilities, ignorance, and acceptance of prostitution (Legal Service India 2009). Psychological causes include the desire for physical pleasure, greed, and dejection (Legal Service India 2009). Many women are helpless and are reduced to selling their bodies.
In India there are different kinds of prostitution that range from prostitutes in brothels, Street prostitutes, bar dancers, call girls, religious prostitutes, escort girls, road side brothel, child prostitutes, Fricative prostitutes, Gimmick prostitutes, beat prostitutes (Legal Service India 2009). At the same time, there are women who have the economic resources that choose prostitution not out of necessity but choice for a more luxurious lifestyle. “Many high-price escorts are educated women from middle-class families who consider prostitution a lucrative and even glamorous profession (Lee 2008). According to Ranjana Kumari, "Only 2 to 3 percent of India's prostitutes enter the profession willingly. [They] are the high-class girls, and it is them exercising their democratic rights" (Lee 2008). Many of these women work in five star hotels compared to the other women who are striving to make money working in major red light districts such as GB Road in Delhi, Sonagachi in Kolkata, Kamathipura in Mumbai, Budhwar Peth in Pune and Reshampura in Gwalior (Legal Service India 2009).
Child Prostitution “India, along with Thailand and the Philippines, has 1.3 million children in its sex-trade centers. The children come from relatively poorer areas and are trafficked to relatively richer ones” (Rani 2008). Trafficking of young girls for prostitution is occurring within the country and from outside countries, “and 60 per cent of those trafficked into prostitution are adolescent girls in the age group of 12 to 16 years” (Rani 2008). They may be sold by their parents, deceived with promises of marriage or a profitable job, or kidnapped and sold to brothel owners (Hum Coolie 2009). Many of these young girls are tortured, held in virtual imprisonment, sexually abused, and raped (Rani 2009). “There are estimated to be over 900 000 sex workers in India and 30% are believed to be children” (Hum Coolie 2009). Child prostitution is still accepted in certain sections of Indian society through Devadasi, where young girls are given to the Gods and become a religious prostitute. Even though Devadasi was banned in 1982, many people still practice it and there are 3 300 devadasis in the area of Belguam (Hum Coolie 2009).
Clients Clients seek out prostitutes for a sense of pleasure and some do it because they have a need to feel power over another human being, especially a woman. Insights derived by health practitioners and social workers from the experience of working in red-light areas suggest that the following categories of men are frequent visitors to prostitutes: low-level workers in the manufacturing and transport industries; other workers living away from their families for a length of time; traders and customers in transitory markets; visitors to fairs, festivals and pilgrim centers; defense personnel living away from families; students; pimps and others who have some control over prostitutes; traders and service providers in red-light areas; and professional blood donors (Thappa, Singh, and Kaimal 2009). Indian truck drivers and their driver partners who spend most of their time on or near highways are generally known to visit many prostitutes during their stopovers (Thappa, Singh, and Kaimal 2009). Some clients prefer virgins and therefore will be attracted to younger girls. Some customers believe that children have fewer chances of getting HIV or AIDS. However, there is a myth that states a man can relieve himself of sexually transmitted diseases if he sleeps with a virgin and some clients believe this (Hum Coolie 2009).
Public There is a lot of discrimination against prostitutes in India. Indian society views prostitution as immoral and sees the sex workers as indecent to their traditional views and customs. Due to the prejudice prostitutes endure from the general public they are denied basic rights, including from their families. Basic rights they are refused include “women cannot access good healthcare and are often subject to abuse, violence and exploitation by police and government officials, while their children face harassment in schools and the workplace” (OHCHR 2009). People in India do not feel a sense of sympathy or compassion for women involved in this field of work, forced or not forced. They view prostitutes as whores and believe they should be banned and not accepted by anyone. Girls and women who have been rescued from prostitution are still not accepted by their families and communities (Rani 2008). India is diverse with the many religions it has, but Hinduism is one of the biggest religions in India. Even though some people have practiced and still practice Devadasi, the religion condemns the act of prostitution (Jayaram 2007). Otherwise if they were in support of it, every temple would have the Devadasi system (Jayaram 2007). However, “engagement of women in prostitution with familial consent is widespread among some of the erstwhile nomadic groups such as the Bedia, Nat, Sansi, Kanjar, and Bachada found in north, northwestern, and central India. In north India, the Bedias are the best known for pursuing prostitution as a familial occupation” (Agrawal 2008).
Law The current law in place that deals with prostitution is the The Immortal Traffic (Prevention) Act (ITPA) 1956 (AbsoluteAstronomy.com 2009). This law was amended from the Immoral Traffic (Suppression) Act. (AbsoluteAstronomy.com 2009). The ITPA is intended to limit and eventually abolish prostitution in India by gradually criminalizing various aspects of sex work (AbsoluteAstronomy.com 2009). The law does not consider prostitution a crime. Though, it does prohibit sex workers from publicly soliciting customers and “practice their trade within 200 yards of a public or a notified area (AbsoluteAstronomy.com 2009). The ITPA basically “punishes acts by third parties facilitating prostitution like brothel keeping, living off earnings and procuring, even where sex work is not coerced” (Legal Service India 2009). To try and reduce the sex industry and prevent the criminalization of prostitutes, the ITPA Amendment Bill 2006 sought to restrain the demand factor that both creates and maintains prostitution, and to legalize the unlawful selling of sex (Sanderson 2008). “Sex workers and social activists [felt] that this [new amendment] would seriously threaten the existence of sex workers in the country, as it would lead to further harassment from the police and other law enforcing agencies” (HighBeam Research, Inc. 2006).
Police There are some decent police officers in India and some that are not as upright and are corrupt. Some police officers take bribes, do not follow the law, turn out to be robbers and at times steal some of the prostitute’s earnings (Rani 2008). They also by force take free sexual services (Sanderson 2008). Prostitutes that are arrested after a raid are sometimes returned to their traffickers or captors after being released by officers that have taken a bribe (Sanderson 2008).
To Legalize or Not Some are in favor of legalizing prostitution, while some are in opposition and want the law to remain as is. Some benefits that people agree legalization of prostitution will provide include: “the sex industry will stop sex trafficking, control the sex industry, decrease underground, hidden, illegal and street prostitution, protect the women in prostitution as they will have more rights, and recognition of prostitution as an economic activity by enabling women in India to obtain working permits as sex workers" (Legal Service India 2009). Some say keeping prostitution illegal results in crime because many criminals view prostitutes and their customers as attractive targets for robbery, fraud, rape, or other criminal acts (Legal Service India 2009). Criminals believe that prostitutes are not likely to report crimes to the police because than the sex workers would have to admit that they are involved in the illegal act of prostitution (Legal Service India 2009). However there are others who are not in favour in of prostitution being legalized in India because they are not comfortable with the issue; some are willing to help but do not want prostitution to be legalized; India’s customs are different than other countries; the issue can be handled in other ways besides legalizing it (Das 2003). Therefore, some are in favour of prostitution being legalaized as they believe it will stop the exploitation and trafficking of women into the field. However, some feel that it will open up a new can of worms and Indian society won’t be able to handle it as it is not a part of their traditional way of life.
Works Cited
Agrawal, Anuja. "India Together: Living off Prostitution - 24 January 2008." India Together: The news in proportion - Home Page. 24 Jan. 2008. 01 Feb. 2009 <http://www.indiatogether.org/2008/jan/wom-bedia.htm>.
Das, Arun Kumar. "A mandate to legalise prostitution-Delhi Times-Cities-The Times of India." The Times of India: Latest News India, World & Business News, Cricket & Sports, Bollywood. 25 Aug. 2003. 02 Feb. 2009 <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/145540.cms>.
Lee, Melanie. "High-priced prostitutes sharing in India's new prosperity - International Herald Tribune." International Herald Tribune - World News, Analysis, and Global Opinions. 14 Sept. 2008. 02 Feb. 2009 <http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/09/14/business/escort.php>.
Rani, Sudha. "Prostitution: A burning issue in India today." Citizen Journalism in India - Latest News & Reviews on Economy Politics Business Finance Bollywood Sports Lifestyle Technology & Pictures. 02 Apr. 2008. 05 Feb. 2009 <http://www.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=131963>.
"Sex workers seek changes in Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act | Article from The Hindustan Times | HighBeam Research." Research - Articles - Journals | Find research fast at HighBeam Research. 25 May 2006. 02 Feb. 2009 <http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1042068071.html>.
Prostitution In India
Introduction
Prostitution is the activity of selling one’s body for sexual intercourse in the exchange for money. Prostitution has been around for a very long time and exists in every part of the world. It can be a willful choice or someone can be forced into it. Trafficking of prostitution is occurring in India and results in women being abused, kidnapped, raped, and sold to brothels and pimps. In addition, there is a lot of underage prostitution also taking place in India by young girls. Prostitutes in India are not given the same rights as every other citizen even if they did not choose the occupation willingly and treated horribly by the general public. It is essential to understand everyone’s perspective on prostitution and how they feel about prostitution, including forced prostitution.
History
Prostitution in India began with Devadasi, which is a practice where girls were married off to Gods or a local religious deity of the temple (Legal Service India 2009). The girls would be married off before they would reach puberty and she would be required to become a prostitute for upper-caste community members (Legal Service India 2009). Devadasi was declared illegal in India, though many still practice it (Legal Service India 2009).
Causes and Types of Prostitution
Many sex workers in India work as prostitutes due to the lack of funds to support themselves or their children. Many do not have a choice but to choose this occupation due to poverty, after a marriage fails or after being disowned by their families (AbsoluteAstronomy.com 2009). Some women from villages fall in love, elope, and than find themselves betrayed by their husbands and sold to a pimp, that take money from women as commission (Rani 2008). Other factors that lead to prostitution include social customs, family prostitutes, and inability to arrange marriage, bad company, and lack of sex education, media, prior incest and rape, lack of recreational facilities, ignorance, and acceptance of prostitution (Legal Service India 2009). Psychological causes include the desire for physical pleasure, greed, and dejection (Legal Service India 2009). Many women are helpless and are reduced to selling their bodies.
In India there are different kinds of prostitution that range from prostitutes in brothels, Street prostitutes, bar dancers, call girls, religious prostitutes, escort girls, road side brothel, child prostitutes, Fricative prostitutes, Gimmick prostitutes, beat prostitutes (Legal Service India 2009).
At the same time, there are women who have the economic resources that choose prostitution not out of necessity but choice for a more luxurious lifestyle. “Many high-price escorts are educated women from middle-class families who consider prostitution a lucrative and even glamorous profession (Lee 2008). According to Ranjana Kumari, "Only 2 to 3 percent of India's prostitutes enter the profession willingly. [They] are the high-class girls, and it is them exercising their democratic rights" (Lee 2008). Many of these women work in five star hotels compared to the other women who are striving to make money working in major red light districts such as GB Road in Delhi, Sonagachi in Kolkata, Kamathipura in Mumbai, Budhwar Peth in Pune and Reshampura in Gwalior (Legal Service India 2009).
Child Prostitution
“India, along with Thailand and the Philippines, has 1.3 million children in its sex-trade centers. The children come from relatively poorer areas and are trafficked to relatively richer ones” (Rani 2008). Trafficking of young girls for prostitution is occurring within the country and from outside countries, “and 60 per cent of those trafficked into prostitution are adolescent girls in the age group of 12 to 16 years” (Rani 2008). They may be sold by their parents, deceived with promises of marriage or a profitable job, or kidnapped and sold to brothel owners (Hum Coolie 2009). Many of these young girls are tortured, held in virtual imprisonment, sexually abused, and raped (Rani 2009). “There are estimated to be over 900 000 sex workers in India and 30% are believed to be children” (Hum Coolie 2009).
Child prostitution is still accepted in certain sections of Indian society through Devadasi, where young girls are given to the Gods and become a religious prostitute. Even though Devadasi was banned in 1982, many people still practice it and there are 3 300 devadasis in the area of Belguam (Hum Coolie 2009).
Clients
Clients seek out prostitutes for a sense of pleasure and some do it because they have a need to feel power over another human being, especially a woman.
Insights derived by health practitioners and social workers from the experience of working in red-light areas suggest that the following categories of men are frequent visitors to prostitutes: low-level workers in the manufacturing and transport industries; other workers living away from their families for a length of time; traders and customers in transitory markets; visitors to fairs, festivals and pilgrim centers; defense personnel living away from families; students; pimps and others who have some control over prostitutes; traders and service providers in red-light areas; and professional blood donors (Thappa, Singh, and Kaimal 2009).
Indian truck drivers and their driver partners who spend most of their time on or near highways are generally known to visit many prostitutes during their stopovers (Thappa, Singh, and Kaimal 2009). Some clients prefer virgins and therefore will be attracted to younger girls. Some customers believe that children have fewer chances of getting HIV or AIDS. However, there is a myth that states a man can relieve himself of sexually transmitted diseases if he sleeps with a virgin and some clients believe this (Hum Coolie 2009).
Public
There is a lot of discrimination against prostitutes in India. Indian society views prostitution as immoral and sees the sex workers as indecent to their traditional views and customs. Due to the prejudice prostitutes endure from the general public they are denied basic rights, including from their families. Basic rights they are refused include “women cannot access good healthcare and are often subject to abuse, violence and exploitation by police and government officials, while their children face harassment in schools and the workplace” (OHCHR 2009). People in India do not feel a sense of sympathy or compassion for women involved in this field of work, forced or not forced. They view prostitutes as whores and believe they should be banned and not accepted by anyone. Girls and women who have been rescued from prostitution are still not accepted by their families and communities (Rani 2008).
India is diverse with the many religions it has, but Hinduism is one of the biggest religions in India. Even though some people have practiced and still practice Devadasi, the religion condemns the act of prostitution (Jayaram 2007). Otherwise if they were in support of it, every temple would have the Devadasi system (Jayaram 2007).
However, “engagement of women in prostitution with familial consent is widespread among some of the erstwhile nomadic groups such as the Bedia, Nat, Sansi, Kanjar, and Bachada found in north, northwestern, and central India. In north India, the Bedias are the best known for pursuing prostitution as a familial occupation” (Agrawal 2008).
Law
The current law in place that deals with prostitution is the The Immortal Traffic (Prevention) Act (ITPA) 1956 (AbsoluteAstronomy.com 2009). This law was amended from the Immoral Traffic (Suppression) Act. (AbsoluteAstronomy.com 2009). The ITPA is intended to limit and eventually abolish prostitution in India by gradually criminalizing various aspects of sex work (AbsoluteAstronomy.com 2009). The law does not consider prostitution a crime. Though, it does prohibit sex workers from publicly soliciting customers and “practice their trade within 200 yards of a public or a notified area (AbsoluteAstronomy.com 2009). The ITPA basically “punishes acts by third parties facilitating prostitution like brothel keeping, living off earnings and procuring, even where sex work is not coerced” (Legal Service India 2009). To try and reduce the sex industry and prevent the criminalization of prostitutes, the ITPA Amendment Bill 2006 sought to restrain the demand factor that both creates and maintains prostitution, and to legalize the unlawful selling of sex (Sanderson 2008). “Sex workers and social activists [felt] that this [new amendment] would seriously threaten the existence of sex workers in the country, as it would lead to further harassment from the police and other law enforcing agencies” (HighBeam Research, Inc. 2006).
Police
There are some decent police officers in India and some that are not as upright and are corrupt. Some police officers take bribes, do not follow the law, turn out to be robbers and at times steal some of the prostitute’s earnings (Rani 2008). They also by force take free sexual services (Sanderson 2008). Prostitutes that are arrested after a raid are sometimes returned to their traffickers or captors after being released by officers that have taken a bribe (Sanderson 2008).
To Legalize or Not
Some are in favor of legalizing prostitution, while some are in opposition and want the law to remain as is. Some benefits that people agree legalization of prostitution will provide include: “the sex industry will stop sex trafficking, control the sex industry, decrease underground, hidden, illegal and street prostitution, protect the women in prostitution as they will have more rights, and recognition of prostitution as an economic activity by enabling women in India to obtain working permits as sex workers" (Legal Service India 2009). Some say keeping prostitution illegal results in crime because many criminals view prostitutes and their customers as attractive targets for robbery, fraud, rape, or other criminal acts (Legal Service India 2009). Criminals believe that prostitutes are not likely to report crimes to the police because than the sex workers would have to admit that they are involved in the illegal act of prostitution (Legal Service India 2009).
However there are others who are not in favour in of prostitution being legalized in India because they are not comfortable with the issue; some are willing to help but do not want prostitution to be legalized; India’s customs are different than other countries; the issue can be handled in other ways besides legalizing it (Das 2003). Therefore, some are in favour of prostitution being legalaized as they believe it will stop the exploitation and trafficking of women into the field. However, some feel that it will open up a new can of worms and Indian society won’t be able to handle it as it is not a part of their traditional way of life.
Works Cited
Agrawal, Anuja. "India Together: Living off Prostitution - 24 January 2008." India Together: The news in proportion - Home Page. 24 Jan. 2008. 01 Feb. 2009 <http://www.indiatogether.org/2008/jan/wom-bedia.htm>.
"Child Prostitution In India." Hum Coolie - dedicated to the "coolies" of India. 01 Feb. 2009 <http://www.hum-coolie.com/child-prostitution.htm>.
Das, Arun Kumar. "A mandate to legalise prostitution-Delhi Times-Cities-The Times of India." The Times of India: Latest News India, World & Business News, Cricket & Sports, Bollywood. 25 Aug. 2003. 02 Feb. 2009 <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/145540.cms>.
"Immoral Traffic in Persons Act: Facts, Discussion Forum, and Encyclopedia Article." AbsoluteAstronomy.com. 02 Feb. 2009 <http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Immoral_Traffic_in_Persons_Act>.
Jayaram, V. "Hinduism and prostitution." Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism and Other Resources. 01 Feb. 2009 <http://www.hinduwebsite.com/hinduism/h_prostitution.asp>.
Lee, Melanie. "High-priced prostitutes sharing in India's new prosperity - International Herald Tribune." International Herald Tribune - World News, Analysis, and Global Opinions. 14 Sept. 2008. 02 Feb. 2009 <http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/09/14/business/escort.php>.
OHCHR. 02 Feb. 2009 <http://lib.ohchr.org/HRBodies/UPR/Documents/Session1/IN/SANGRAM_IND_UPR_S1_2008_SampadaGraminMahilaSanstha_uprsubmission_JOINT.pdf>.
"Prostitution in India: Facts, Discussion Forum, and Encyclopedia Article." AbsoluteAstronomy.com. 02 Feb. 2009 <http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Prostitution_in_India>.
"Prostitution in India." Legal Service India - Law, Lawyers and Legal Resources. 02 Feb. 2009 <http://www.legalserviceindia.com/article/l269-Prostitution-in-India.html>.
Rani, Sudha. "Prostitution: A burning issue in India today." Citizen Journalism in India - Latest News & Reviews on Economy Politics Business Finance Bollywood Sports Lifestyle Technology & Pictures. 02 Apr. 2008. 05 Feb. 2009 <http://www.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=131963>.
Sanderson, Vanessa. "Prostitution, trafficking and impunity in India: A human rights perspective — Ethics in Action." Ethics in Action - Vol. 2 No. 6 — Ethics in Action. Oct. 2008. 02 Feb. 2009 <http://www.eia.rghr.net/archive/2008-ethics-in-action/vol.-2-no.-5-october-2008/prostitution-trafficking-and-impunity-in-india-a>.
"Sex workers seek changes in Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act | Article from The Hindustan Times | HighBeam Research." Research - Articles - Journals | Find research fast at HighBeam Research. 25 May 2006. 02 Feb. 2009 <http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1042068071.html>.
Thappa, Devinder Mohan, Nidhi Singh, and Sowmya Kaimal. "Prostitution in India and its role in the spread of HIV infection :Thappa DM, Singh N, Kaimal S, Indian J Sex Transm Dis." Indian Journal of Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Free full text articles from Indian J Sex Transm Dis. 2007. 02 Feb. 2009 <http://www.ijstd.org/article.asp?issn=0253-7184;year=2007;volume=28;issue=2;spage=69;epage=75;aulast=Thappa>.